Swank Pets Dog Blog

So as you may or may not know by now, I am the owner of a very small “Teacup” Yorkie.  I know there is no such breed as a “Teacup” Yorkie, which is why I use the apostrophes.  I only mention this because I’ve had people actually get mad at me for giving false information about “Teacups” and how they’re not an actual breed…its only a description.  But I digress.  For those of you that don’t know, I have a 2 pound Yorkie named Munchkin.   She is currently 2 and half years old, and she is healthy and happy as can be.  However, I know there are many people out there that are too scared to buy a toy breed dog because they are afraid that they are too delicate and too tough to care for.  Yes, they are definitely more delicate than larger breed dogs, and yes, you they do require special attention when they are puppies.  However, toy breed dogs make wonderful pets….especially if you live in an apartment…but they are definitely manageable and you shouldn’t be scared to own one.  The object of this post is to give you some certain tips and lessons that I have learned throughout the 2.5 years that I’ve owned my little teeny tiny baby, Munchkin.  Hopefully these tips will help keep your dog safe and healthy.

(This cute Yorkie is named Ali and belongs to Kaye Sweetser)

1.  When you buy a toy breed puppy such as a Yorkie, Maltese, Chihuahua etc., one of the most important things I can stress is to educate yourself about hypoglycemia.  I wrote a pretty decent article that explains in detail on what is hypoglycemia and how to treat it.  In short, its a condition that appears much more frequently in toy breed puppies [Read more →]

Many people seem to have this problem of feeling guilty when they leave for work each morning and have to keep their dog at home all alone.  You know the feeling.  You’re about to step out the door, but your dog  is sitting right there at the door step with those incredibly sad puppy dog eyes.  You just can’t help but feel guilty in this helpless situation.  They usually just sit and stare at you with such a sullen demeanor that says “So you’re going to leave me alone again? Please don’t go or at least take me with you! Please!”  I’m telling you that these exact words are telepathically passed from your dog’s mind to yours!  And you stand there feeling so guilty for leaving, but someone has to make the money so you can spoil your dog with dog treats, dog clothes, dog carriers, and dog toys galore.  So now you feel stuck because you have to go to work, but what do you do in this situation?  How can you keep your dog pre-occupied throughout the day so your dog doesn’t feel so lonely?  Well, I’ve come up with some tips to help you through this tough situation.  I hope they help.

1. First, one of the most obvious ways to keep your dog company all day long is to get another dog.  You know how the saying goes, the more the merrier, right?  Of course, this isn’t an option for everybody, but in my opinion, I think [Read more →]

Wow, its been a loooonng time since I’ve written in here, and I apologize, but I’ve been pretty busy.  I’m going to really try hard to keep up with some good stories and articles in the blog.  Anyhow, for this post, I’ve decided to write about what I usually look for in the Yorkie breed.  I know my opinion is going be different from many people and I’m sure I will hear from many people how I’m so wrong, but this is my blog…so you’ll have to deal with it.  All Yorkies are wonderful and they come in many different shapes, sizes and colors.  This is just the look I prefer when I look for a Yorkie.

 Weight: Don’t quote me on this, but I believe that the typical AKC standard weight for the Yorkie breed is anywhere from 4 -7 lbs.  This is probably the biggest and most important subject people bring up when looking for a Yorkie.  Most people want to find the smallest Yorkie possible.  I totally don’t agree with this as the determining factor when shopping for a Yorkie, however it is a fact that many people desire a smaller ‘teacup’ sized Yorkie [Read more →]

When we think of a family pet, dogs and cute little puppies often come to mind. Choosing the breed of dog is often the tough part. With the growing popularity of toy breed dogs such as Yorkies, Maltese and Chihuhua’s, more and more families are turning to these small little fur babies as family pets.  And why wouldn’t they?  These toy breed dogs make excellent family pets and companions.  They are also great if you live in an apartment or a condo, they eat less and poop less.  Sounds like the perfect pet, right?  Well, these little toy breed dogs are absolutely wonderful for the family, but you may want to reconsider smaller breed dogs if you have small children around the house.  

Toy breed dogs are very fragile animals.  They are even more fragile when they are puppies.  It doesn’t take much force to break a limb or seriously injure one of these little puppies.  Remember, when these toy breed dogs are puppies, their bones are EXTREMELY delicate.  And little toddlers and babies are absolutely strong enough to snap a limb in an instant.  Of course little Junior has no real intention of hurting the puppy, but small children just don’t know any better. Furthermore, if left unsupervised for even a split second, your child could end up seriously injuring your little puppy.  If you think about it, little kids love to pull, tug, and bite everything they see.  I’m exaggerating a little bit here, but its mostly true.  You definitely wouldn’t want your little fragile puppy subjected to this pulling, tugging, and biting.

Now I know many of you may be thinking that you could simply teach your kid what they should not do with the puppy.  And I know there are very obedient little kids out there, however, it only takes one time to really jeopardize a puppies life.  My teeny tiny Yorkie, Munchkin is not even 2 pounds, so we are extremely careful where we step, sit and sleep.  Even with me, there have been some close calls where I almost sat on Munchkin!  Now just imagine the responsibility a little toddler would need to take on in order to avoid a major mishap.

So if you absolutely have to get a toy breed dog, and you have little kids in the house, buy a full grown dog.  I would say buying a dog at least 6 months of age.  Most toy breed dogs are full grown in size at this point.  I would also avoid the “Teacup” sized dogs.  Try to get a larger sized dog of the particular toy breed that you desire.

With that said, I hope this hasn’t offended anyone and their child.  I’m just trying to help avoid any injuries, broken hearts, and vet bills.

Last weekend, Imperial Beach in Southern San Diego played host to the 3rd Annual Loews Coronoado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition.  Its really a pretty cool event to watch as thousands of spectators came to watch dogs of all sorts of sizes and breeds hang ten in the beautiful San Diego surf.  The weather was perfect, as thousands of people and dozens of vendors enjoyed watching dogs shred some waves, sometimes in tandem with their owners.  All proceeds from the event went to Modest Needs Foundation, a charity that helps to prevent poverty before it begins.

These are the following winners from this years 2008 Surf Dog Competition:

Small Surf Dogs, 40 pounds and under

1st Place: TJ, a Spanish Spaniel
2nd Place: Murphy, a Fox Wire Terrier
3rd Place: Toby, a Shih Tzu mix

Large surf dogs 41 pounds and over
1st Place: Stoli, a Black Lab
2nd Place: Scooter, a Golden Retriever
3rd Place: Stanley, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Teams (surf dogs and humans surfing together on the same board at the same time)
1st Place: Zoey, a Jack Russell Terrier, and his owners Scott and Tyler Chandler
2nd Place: Pogey, a Poodle mix, and her owner Lauren Leslie

Here are some cool photos from the event.

[Read more →]

Ok, we are extremely excited.  No wait, we are SUPER excited about the couture pet carrier line that we just got in from Petote, the leading designer in designer pet carriers.  What is “Couture” some people may ask?

One defintion I found: the fashion houses or fashion designers that create exclusive and often trend-setting fashions

And trend setting these are!  When we got these bags in, we were absolutely amazed at how beautiful these couture pet carriers looked.  The materials and craftsmanship are unparralled and go to show that nothing was overlooked in designing this gorgeous new line of couture pet carriers.  I guarantee that you and your dog will turn heads as you walk around in stunning fashion.  Words cannot describe how beautiful these designer dog carriers look….but I will give it my best shot.

This entire line is made from the finest Italian patent leather that money can buy.  I guarantee if Louis Vuitton made a couture pet carrier with such fine materials as these, it would go for over $10,000 easily….and I’m not even kidding [Read more →]

I know this is kind of old news, but I still thought it was pretty funny.  Some of you may have heard that couple weeks back, Paris Hilton walked into a pet store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles and wanted to buy a Yorkie puppy.  Apparently, sources said that Paris Hilton wanted the puppy because she was on her way to a photo shoot and thought the puppy would make the picture look cuter.  In other words, the Yorkie puppy would have been a pure impulse buy.  Well, one of the workers denied Paris Hilton from buying the puppy because the worker felt that Paris Hilton was simply buying the Yorkie puppy on total impulse.  Needless to say, Paris Hilton went berserk in the store and threw a huge temper tantrum screaming out “I love my puppies! I want my baby!!!”  Unfortunately, the kicking and screaming from Paris did not work in her favor causing Paris to leave the store in a tirade.

So to fill people in on the story with Paris Hilton, many have accused her of mistreating her puppies because she just has so many of them.  People probably think that anyone with that many dogs cannot possibly [Read more →]

Every year, about 8000 people are bit by snakes.  Unfortunately, dogs also become victim to snake bites (I know, its unfortunate for humans, but this is a dog blog!)   The majority of these snake bites occur during the warm Summer months when snakes are most active.  Many snake bites to dogs come from non-venomous snakes, which are pretty much harmless besides causing some discomfort.  However, North America is home to about 4 types of venomous snakes.  These venomous snakes are rattlers, moccasins, coral snakes. vipers also known as cottonmouths.   Although the chances of these bites being fatal to larger dogs such as Labradors and Rottweilers are slim, smaller, toy breed dogs are a different story.  The severity of the bite all depends on the size of your dog, where the bite has occurred on the body, and the deepness of the bite from the snake’s fangs.

If you suspect your dog has been bitten by a venomous snake, there some things that you should do that will help your dog survive such a horrible event. 

1. If you are around when your dog has been bitten, try to identify the type of snake.  I know we all aren’t the Crocodile Hunter when it comes to snakes but  try to take notice if the snake has a rattler or not.  If it does have a rattler, its obviously a rattlesnake.  If not, try to look at the head.  Coral snakes have smaller heads with red and yellow bands NEXT to each other.  I emphasized this because king snakes look extremely close to coral snakes, but they are not venomous.  King snakes have red and black bands next to each.  I know its tough, but you can remember this rhyme “red next to yellow will harm a fellow, red next to black and you’re safe jack”.   For the most part if the snake doesn’t have a rattler and the head is fairly large with a triangular shaped head, its most likely a cottonmouth or moccassin, both venomous snakes.  Most venomous snakes have a triangular shaped head.  [Read more →]

Do you ever wonder what successful people do after they retire.  For most people, the thought of retiring means vacations, cruises, fishing or golf.  However, there are others that still have a void that needs to be filled.  This brings us to a story of an attorney named Jim Karger from Texas.  At the age of 56, Jim Karger had the largest labor law firm in all of Texas.  However, he decided it was time to retire and move to Mexico.  Finding that he still wanted to advise corporate clients on the side, Karger started a consulting firm in Mexico.  However, it was his journeys throughout Mexico that made him start the non-profit organization known as SAMM, or Save A Mexican Mutt.  During his new life in Mexico, Jim and his wife Kelly noticed that there were dozens of abused, starving, injured, and homeless dogs all up and down the street.  He states that he couldn’t walk down the street without seeing the sad sight of a helpless dog.  These horrific scenes gave Jim Karger the motivation to start SAMM.

The goal of SAMM is to take in these helpless dogs and start caring, socializing, and eventually turning them to good homes. To this day, the Kargers spend a majority of their time delivering rehabilitated dogs throughout San Antonio, El Paso, Albuquerque and Denver.  Many of the rescued dogs are also placed locally in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where Save a Mexican Mutt is based.  So far, they have saved over 200 dogs and have 8 dogs themselves.

Its great to see people like Jim Karger in this world today.  He could easily live the life that millions of Americans probably dream about with his hefty bank account, yet he has devoted himself to an excellent cause.  Two thumbs up to you Jim!

Everyday around my neighborhood, I notice the same few elderly people walking their dogs around.  There is one man that has a little tiny Chihuahua, another man that has a larger sized Chihuahua, and then an elderly woman with a really small Chihuahua.  As you can see, it seems like these senior citizens have a liking towards smaller breed dogs…or maybe just Chihuahuas?  I also used to live next to a huge convalescent home where many of the occupants would walk their dogs around the block.  The breeds I most commonly saw were Yorkies, Maltese, and of course, Chihuahuas.  As a matter fact, many inquiring customers of our Yorkies are looking for a pet for their elderly parents.  Either way, it led me think why all these senior citizens decided to get smaller breed dogs.  It didn’t take me long to realize all the benefits that these smaller breed dogs could offer senior citizens. 

1. Saving living space.  I’m sure this is the number reason why smaller breed dogs are sought after by senior citizens.  Their small size makes many things a lot easier to handle for senior citizens.  For one, most elderly people I know tend to live in smaller sized living quarters, especially if they live in convalescent homes.  Having a Chihuahua in the house obviously saves a lot of room compared to larger breeds such as a Great Dane! 

2. Ease of walking.  I think its great that senior citizens are proud dog owners.  Having a dog in the first place will encourage the elderly to get out and get exercise.  However, walking a dog such as a Doberman Pincher may be a little challenging for most 80 year old men and women.  I’m 6′ 0″ tall and weigh about 190 lbs, and some of these larger breed dogs definitely have some tugging power that give even myself  a tough time.  It can be very dangerous for both [Read more →]

This post is dedicated for those of you that are in search of a new puppy.  It’s important to read this post before you buy a new puppy so that you will be better educated about their essential socialization needs.  This post is also perfect for those of you that have just brought your new puppy home.  I think this post will really help you understand each stage in your puppies life, and the importance of each stage.

For most puppies, many people recommend releasing them to go home to a family at around 7-9 weeks of age.  In my opinion, this is quite correct.  HOWEVER, for small toy breed dogs, I highly suggest not bringing a puppy home before 12 weeks of age.  When small toy breed puppies leave their mothers too soon, they are more prone to health complications and hypoglycemia.  The bodies and immune systems of toy breed puppies are just too weak if they are released from their mothers too soon.  I’m not saying that your toy breed puppy absolutely won’t survive if they leave their mothers earlier than 12 weeks, however, I think you place a higher risk of endangering your puppies health.

Now, back to the general case.  If you do release your dogs too late from their mother, your puppy may experience behavior problems.  Between 7-9 weeks of age, your puppies neurological senses are complete, and it’s at this point in their lives that they can really start to develop a bond with their owner.  If they leave at a later age, your puppy may experience a tougher time building a bond with you.  Some risks of leaving a mother too late include: [Read more →]

Since Summer is quickly approaching, I’ve decided to keep with my Summer theme on this post.  Keeping your dog cool and looking good is still possible with these cute Summer dog clothes.  Swank Pets has a huge variety of cute summer tanks and shirts for dogs that are perfect during these warmer months.  I would suggest getting your dog a Summer cut if possible before putting these clothes on your dog.  Their safety is number one, so never put any clothes on your dog if it is too hot outside.   However, some of these cute summer tank tops for dogs can also help protect your little babies from the sun’s harmful rays if they have sensitive skin.  The tank tops allow for great ventilation and allow cool breezes to flow on through.  Here are just some of the cute Summer dog clothes that Swank Pets has to offer.  Be sure to check out our entire collection of cute summer dog tank tops here.

As Summer approaches and the days get warmer (its already heating up quite a bit here in San Diego), there are some things you’ll want to keep in mind when it comes to your dog.  Hot weather can be very detrimental and even fatal for dogs if proper precautions are not taken.  Certain breeds need extra care during hot weather, such as snubbed nosed breeds like bulldogs and pugs.  Older dogs and overweight dogs also need special attention and care during these hot days.  Here are some tips that you can do to help keep your dog safe during the hot weather of the Summer months. 

1.  Always keep lots and lots of fresh water around.  Make sure that your dog has a constant full bowl of water throughout the day and night.  This is probably one of the most important things to keep in mind for your dog when it comes to hot weather.  Dehydration can occur quickly during hot days which can be very dangerous for your dog.  If possible, giving your dog fresh refrigerated water would be preferred.  Some dogs seem to even stop drinking water because of the sudden change in weather.  If your dog seems to be experiencing this, you may need to use a syringe to force them to take down water.  Either way, keep your dog hydrated!

2. Provide plenty of shade!  If you leave your dog outdoors, make absolutely sure that there is an area of shade available at all times of the day.  Keep in mind that shady areas will shift throughout the day, so make sure there is a shady area for your dog to rest at all times of the day.

3. If you have a bulldog, pug, overweight, or elderly dog, I recommend bringing them inside the house and turning on your air conditioner.  If you don’t have AC, then use an indoor fan.  However, I would highly recommend against keeping these types of dogs outdoors during hot weather.

4. Shaving your dog’s hair during the hot Summer months can also help alleviate the heat.  A ’Summer Cut’ for your dog can also be beneficial to dogs that are prone to skin irritations due to heat.  I make sure to give all my dogs a Summer cut once the weather starts heating up.  Imagine if you had to wear a sweater all day when its 90 degrees outside!  Your dog probably wouldn’t like it either.

5. Restrict your dog’s playtime to either mornings or late afternoons when the weather is somewhat cooler.  Also, never let them play right after eating during hot or humid weather.

6.  If you live by the beach, I know it must be tempting to bring your dog for a day of fun in the sand and water.  However, if the weather is scorching out, I would recommend against this unless you can provide some sort of shade and fresh water at all times.  If you can set up a large umbrella or canopy, this may be a solution, but don’t risk it otherwise.

7. Next, this one is very obvious.  Never ever leave your dog unattended inside your car.  As intuitive as it may sound, many dogs die from heat exhaustion because negligent owners forget about their dogs inside their car.  Either bring your dog with you where ever you go or leave them at home inside an air cooled house with water.

Hopefully these tips can ensure that you and your dog have a safe and fun Summer!  As always, I am not a vet, so consult your local veterinarian before following any of these tips described above.    

For those of you with male dogs, you’ve probably run into the problem with marking.  You know, where your little guy lifts his leg and pees on spots that he feels need to be noticed.  Of course, this is a completely natural behavior so you can’t get mad at him for it…but it sure gets annoying when your furniture starts to smell like urine!  One remedy that I’ve used to alleviate this habit in our house is with a small male dog diaper.  These male dog diapers are designed with a patented “P-pocket” to fit comfortably around your dogs waist.  The hoop and loop closure allow you to adjust the fit so that your little guy can stay comfortable all day long.  What’s better are the cool designs and patterns that these dog diapers are available in.  If you’re going to pee, why not look cool doing it?    The “P-pocket” is lined with terry cloth so you can just toss them in the washing machine when the diapers get dirty.  We have about 4 of these male dog diapers lying around so we can rotate them as they get dirty or washed. 

These male dog diapers are also excellent for puppies.  While you’re in the potty training process, you can use these to prevent accidents on the carpet.  As you slowly get your puppy potty trained, you can start removing the dog diaper as necessary.  I encourage many of our customers to try this male dog diaper out if they are getting frustrated with accidents all over the house.  Just remember, they’re just puppies and you need to be patient.  Hopefully these doggy diapers can help with their potty training process.

Also, I know many of you are just dying to sleep with your puppy in bed but are afraid that they’ll make an accident in the middle of night.  With these male dog diapers, you can sleep soundly throught the night without having to worry about waking up in the middle of the night to a pee puddle on you sheets!

Here are the 3 styles of male dog diapers that we carry.  All of them are super cute and comfortable.  It might be a good idea to call us before placing an order.  We have a general idea of what size dog diaper your dog may need according to their weight, but dogs come in all sorts of shapes!

We also have female dog diapers.  If your dog is not spayed, then she will usually come into heat every 6 months.  Those of you with un-spayed female dogs know how this can be a problem…especially if you have white sheets or furniture in the house, YUCK!  But now you can simply use one of these female dog diapers whenever your female dog comes into heat.  Again, you can also use these female dog diapers for puppies as you’re potty training them.  These doggy diapers will definitely reduce the amount of accidents that end up on your floor or furniture. 

Good luck and here’s no more pee  accidents!

I just read a story about 2 pitbulls that somehow got into a neighbors backyard and ended up mauling a little tiny Yorkie.  Apparently, the defenseless Yorkie, Scrappy, was in the backyard when 2 pitbulls entered the backyard of Jan Madrid.  Scrappy the Yorkie belonged to Jan’s daugther who watched helplessly as her Yorkie was killed in front of her eyes.  The family was unable to come to the aid of Scrappy in fear that they would also become victims of the 2 pitbulls.  Apparently, it took 3 animal control officers 1 hour to restrain and capture the 2 attacking pitbulls.  The owner of the pitbulls was cited by Animal Control and released back to the owner.  Animal control apparently made sure that the 2 pitbulls were safely secured at the onwer’s house after the incident.

I know this is a very sad story for any dog lover out there, but I had to write a post about it in hopes of bringing awareness to this sort of tragedy.  Obviously, the only one to blame in this situation is the owner of the pitbulls.  Even though the pitbulls were the actual ones that did the killing, it is the sole responsibility of the owner to make sure his dogs do not get loose.  It makes me so mad to see how some people with pitbulls are so irresponsible.  It is a known fact that pitbulls are a more aggressive breed towards other dogs.  Any responsible pitbull owner will tell you that they keep their dog on a leash at all times in public, and they make sure that their yards are secure.  It’s the irrepsonsible owners that give the good owners and the pitbull breed a bad name.

Being a Yorkie lover, it is truly sad to hear such a tragic story.  However, it just makes me mad how irresponsible some dog owners are.  They just don’t understand the HUGE responsiblity that goes behind owning an dog, whether it be a Yorkie or a pitbull.  All dogs require a lot of responsibility and proper education beforehand.  Bringing a dog home is not a spur of the moment thing.  You should really think hard about bringing a dog into your household.  You should really do your research on the exact breed you plan on buying, along with all the responsibilies that come with owning a dog.

In the end, I’m glad that these 2 pitbulls were not put to sleep.  In my opinion, it wasn’t there fault.  However, I am very upset that the owner did not get a harsher punishment other than the citation.  I really think he should go to prison.  After all, a life was lost because of his negligence.  Sure, it wasn’t a human life, but regardless, I’m sure that Scrappy’s family saw her as a true member and companion of their family.

Of course, there’s no way to stop moronic people from owning dogs.  The world will never have their short fall of idiots, and some of these idiots will probably end up owning a dog.  Hopefully, this post will bring awareness to at least one person and hopefully save a dog’s life.

It seems like the whole fad in the fashion industry lately has been vintage clothing.  Many Hollywood A-listers and pop socialites can be seen in US Weekly sporting vintage tees and garments.  However, the trend for vintage clothing does not stop at humans.  The hot trend in small dog clothing has also been the vintage look.  Luckily, Swank Pets is proud to announce that we just received our new collection of vintage clothes for small dogs.  Our vintage clothes for small dogs are made from the best materials (as always) while keeping comfort for your pup in mind.  If you look at the stictching and overall craftsmanship put into these vintage clothes for small dogs, you will see that these dog garments weren’t simply slapped together. 

So what really defines vintage clothing?  Well, wikipedia defines it as simply clothing from another era, generally older than 25 years old.  If I were to chose an era where these vintage clothes for small dogs were inspired from, I would have to say the 70’s and maybe late 60’s.  Either way, we are very excited about this new collection and we are sure that you will also love our new line of vintage dog clothes.  Hmmm…that was kind of an oxy moron.

Anyhow, here are the trendy dog garments that we just got in.  These looks are definitely inspired by a more rocker/rebel lifestyle.  If your little one gives some attitude now and then, these hot new designer dog clothes are a must have. 

When we buy our new puppies, we usually assume that our new little babies will be our best friends.  We picture our dogs following us where ever we go, sleeping in our arms, and never leaving our sides.  We envision a new best friend that will never betray us or leave us for someone else, after all, dogs are supposed to be the most loyal animals on the planet.  However, do you sometimes get the feeling that your dog is cheating on you?  Do you feel that the dog YOU bought and brought home gives more attention to someone else in the house?  The dog YOU spoil with tons of cute and trendy dog clothes, the dog YOU spoil with fancy designer dog beds and dog carriers, the dog YOU give endless treats to……..is possibly cheating on you?  Well, I’ve been very suspicious lately about my dogs cheating on me. 

You see, my Fiance’ lives me and I see that my dogs seem to cuddle up with him more than they want to cuddle with me.  When I try to look for them, they’re always on his lap sleeping while he watches TV.  When I try to call for them they don’t come to me because they’re busy playing with daddy.  I mean, what’s going on here?  Aren’t I the one that they should be giving all the attention to?  I bathe my dogs, feed my dogs, take them to the groomers, but they just seem to love their dad more.  When I scold my dogs for doing something naughty, who do they run to……daddy.  You know, this isn’t what I signed up for.

If you suspect that your dogs are cheating on you, here are 5 tell tale signs.

1.  When there are 2 people on the same couch, who’s lap does your dog jump on first?  If its not yours, there’s a good chance that your dog is cheating on you.  I know how it is.  You both get home from a tough days work and now its time to relax.  What better way to relax than some TV and your little fur baby in your lap.  But wait a second, your dog doesn’t even want to sit with you.  They automatically jump onto your significant other’s lap and nestle in for a nap.  There goes that plan for a night with you and your and your dog.

2.  For those that allow your dogs to sleep in your bed, watch to see who your dogs spends most of the night with.  My dogs always end up snuggling right next to my fiance’.  Its like clock work for them.  Once the lights go off, they jump into bed and go right next to him.  They don’t even bother coming over next to me to say ‘goodnite’.  This is definitely another bad sign that your dog is cheating on you. [Read more →]

Its been a while since I last posted here, but I’ve been soooo busy. Sorry about the lack of posts, but hopefully this will make it up as my “Good Deed for the Day”.   A couple weeks ago, I wrote about the show Oprah did on the perils of puppy mills. If you didn’t read the post or you’re too lazy to click the link, it was basically a show on how undercover correspondent Lisa Ling goes into puppy mills to reveal the shocking truth on these sickening places. The footage was even a little shocking to me having seen similar footage before, but I’m sure it opened the eyes of millions of other people. Anyway, I decided to continue on that post with this one. So here are 5 ways to help stop puppy mills. If anyone has some ideas to add, please leave them in the comments.

HSUS MySpace Page | Stop Puppy Mills Website

1. Avoid buying your puppy from a pet store at all costs. According to the Oprah show, 99% of all puppies from a pet store come from a puppy mill. No matter what a pet store tells you, its almost a guarantee that puppies from pet stores come from puppy mills. The pet store may tell you that they have ‘health certificates’ or ‘USDA approved’ puppies, but all that stuff is a smoke screen to hide the truth. Take your business to a reputable breeder or the adoption shelter. Whatever you do, NEVER buy from a pet store. You will only fuel the business of puppy mills.

2. Tell all your friends and family about puppy mills. Spread the word to everyone you know, and tell them to spread the word to everyone they know. I know you’ve gotten those email chains at least once in your life. Probably about how to lower the cost of gasoline or something like that. However, lets try that same technique on spreading the word about stopping puppy mills.  Send out an email to your entire contact list and tell all those contacts to do the same. One thing that worries me is the cost of gas has only sky rocketed, so it doesn’t seem like those chain emails did much. However, look on the bright side, we’re not talking about a necessity like gasoline, we’re talking about cute little puppies that need to be saved!

3. Send out petitions and letters to your state legislature. Or, send one to the Pennsylvania’s state legislature, [Read more →]

So I’m driving home the other day and I see a lady walking on the sidewalk with a double stroller.  The stroller was set side by side as opposed to back to back if you can picture that.  As I drove by, I kind of peered over hoping to see a couple of cute babies. but to my surprise, I see 2 hairy Chihuahuas!  Now this isn’t the first time I’ve seen people push their dogs in strollers, but I was completely surprised because I just kept expecting to see human babies.  Now I know many of us feel that our dogs are our babies, but I have a little problem with people pushing their dogs around in strollers everywhere they go. 

For one, it totally deprives your dog of the proper exercise they require.  If you’re going for a walk around the neighborhood, then why not take that opportunity to walk your dog also.  Exercise is such a vital part of your dog’s health and pushing your dog in a stroller does nothing for them except for getting them a sun tan.  Furthermore on the subject, I think that pushing your dog in a stroller on a constant basis will eventually train your dog that a stoller is only way to travel.  I bet that these dogs that are pushed around in dog strollers all day have become accustomed to their stroller and refuse to walk.  Why do I believe this?  Well, some people feel that they have to hold their dogs in their arms 24/7.  Its a great thing that you want to be close to your dog as much as possible, but your dog will soon be accustomed to this treatment.  I’ve been to dog parks where some dogs refuse to play.  What are they doing you ask?  They’re scratching their owners leg and jumping up and down begging and barking for their owners to pick them up.  These dogs refuse to play and socialize and would rather be held by mommy or daddy.  The same thing will apply to people who push their dogs around in doggy strollers.  The dogs will only want to stay in their ’safety spot’ of their stroller wherever they go. 

Don’t get me wrong, I hold my dogs quite a bit, but I also make sure that they get plenty of exercise and that they socialize and play with other dogs at the park.  Who knows, perhaps some of these dogs have a medical problem that prevents them from walking.  In that case, a dog stroller is just fine.  But if you’re pushing your dog around in a doggy stroller because it looks cute, then do yourself and your dog a favor and trash it.  Your dog will benefit from walking a lot more.  Besides, that’s what their four legs are meant to do

One of the best things that you can buy for your small dog is a harness.  Luckily, Swank Pets carries a huge selection of cute harnesses for small dogs.  Besides quality food, a dog harness is very important for small dogs because they can help prevent a collapsed trachea.  Smaller sized dogs and especially teacup dogs are more prone to throat and neck injury when a normal dog collar is used to walk your dog.  Dog collars are great for holding dog tags and adding a little extra flair to their wardrobe, but I recommend against them for walking dogs.  Dog collars tend to put a lot of pressure on a small fragile part of your dogs body, the throat.  If you have a dog that loves to tug when you walk them, a dog collar can put extra pressure on that vital trachea and possibly cause it to collapse.  Small dog harnesses help spread out the pressure on a much stronger part of your dog’s body, their chest.

However, many people feel that small dog harnesses  don’t look good.  However, times have changed and there are now many different styles of cute harnesses for small dogs.  They come in many different fashion styles to fit your little pup’s personality perfectly.  Our cute harnesses for small dogs are also made from high quality material with comfort kept in mind.  All of our cute harnesses for small dogs feature a sturdy D-ring so that you can attach any leash you wish.  Some of our harnesses also feature matching leashes for those of you that have to have everything match.

For those of you with boy dogs, don’t worry, we also carry a pretty good selection of harnesses for boy dogs.  Below are just a few of our cute harnesses for small dogs.  You can see our entire collection of harnesess for small dogs here.

We all want our dogs to live as long as possible.  Unfortunately, there is no magic pill that we can simply give our dogs to make them live longer.  However, there are things that we can do ourselves to help prolong our dogs’ lives.  These are simple to do but it does require effort on your part.  These 5 simple tips will help keep your dog living healthy and strong.

1. Brush your dog’s teeth on a regular basis.  This is a very important aspect to keeping your dog healthy even though it may not seem like it.  A major cause of death in many dogs is due to poor dental hygiene.   By brushing your dog’s teeth on a regular basis with the proper technique, you can help reduce the risk of dental disease in your dog.  Here is a post on “How to brush your dog’s teeth“.

2. Feed your dog a healthy and proper diet.  Today, many people tend to over feed their dogs and they also tend to give their dogs horrible food.  If you buy your food from a grocery store, it’s most likely junk food.  Meaning the dog food is probably filled with grains and fillers that offer your dog no nutrional value.  Also, if you can’t feel your dog’s ribs, then you’re probably over feeding your dog.  Learn the correct portion sizes for your dog’s size and start feeding them some healthy and nutritious dog food.  Here is an excellent read on dog food analysis to see what to look for in the ingredients of your dog’s food.  Here is another great read on preparing home cooked dog meals.

3. Regular exercise is another key factor in keeping your dog healthy.  All dogs need exercise regardless of their size.  Make sure you give enough time each day to exercise your dog.  You can either take them to the dog park or simply go on a 20-30 minute walk around your block.  Either way, the more exercise the better.  You’ll also end up getting a good work out also!

4. Give them lots of attention!  Its been proven that sad and neglected dogs have a shorter life span than dogs that are happy and given lots of attention.  When you come home from work, don’t ignore your dog.  Give them lots of attention and show them that you care about them.  The happiest time in their life is probably hearing the door open to see you come home.  Play with them, praise them, and show them that you love them on a constant basis.  A happy dog is a healthy dog!

5. Watch your dog.  Its the most unsuspecting times where danger lurks.  Cars can come out of no where and be a huge danger to your dog.  If you have toy breed dogs like I do, always keep an eye out for larger dogs that are not on a leash.  Large dogs can pounce on smaller dogs in a blink of the eye.  Even though the larger dog may not mean any harm, toy breeds are very fragile and can get seriously hurt.

Hopefully these 5 tips can help you prolong your dog’s life! 

Last week on Oprah, there was a special report where super undercover reporter, Lisa Ling, went along with Bill Smith to find out what really goes on in puppy mills.  Bill Smith represents the Main Line Animal Rescue , an organization that recovers and rehabilitates dogs that puppy mills no longer want because they are unable to keep breeding.  In this one hour special, Lisa and Bill’s main goal is to raise awareness to the public that 99% of all dogs found at pet shops come from puppy mills.  Bill Smiths’ hope is that people across America will see the absolutely horrid conditions that these dogs and puppies live in, and hopefully deter anyone from buying a dog from a pet shop in the future. 

I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of this at one point in our lives.  We go into a pet shop and see all the cute little puppies.  Their furry little faces are so adorable that you just can’t resist bringing one home.  In actuality, the majority of people love to just look, but there are still many many people that buy their dogs from pet shops.  Bill Smith and the MLAR hope that their show on Oprah will help deter people from buying puppies from a pet shop and end the puppy mill business.

The show on Oprah was actually very disturbing to watch.  Lisa and Bill wanted to prove that these puppies [Read more →]

Do you think of your little fur babies as your prince or princess?  Do they act like royalty because you pretty much spoil them to death?  If so, your little one deserves to sleep in only the finest beds.  That’s why I want to show off some of our designer dog beds.  These designer dog beds are all absolutely stunning and gorgeous.  Keep in mind that these aren’t your everyday dog beds.  These designer dog beds are all made with the highest quality material and the finest details.  Some of these dog beds aren’t cheap either, but I’m sure your little furry balls of royalty deserve them!

This designer dog bed pictured above was made to resemble to famous Russian Faberge Eggs.  Great detail and attention was put into this super gorgeous dog bed.  From the delicate gold lace trim, the jeweled accessories, soft velvet exterior, and ultra plush interior, this designer dog bed is the most beautiful bed we have ever carried.  Only 500 of these in the world, don’t wait one more second to get your own.  Words cannot describe how NICE this bed is.  You’ve got to see it to believe it.

Next, we have our beautiful canopy dog bed.  This designer dog bed is definitely a must for any princess.  The faux fur and soft sponge pillow will guarantee that your dog gets their beauty nap. 

Last, we have this absolutely beautiful leopard print luxe lounger.  This bed will look great in any room of your house.  Your guests will never guess that it’s a dog bed.  This designer dog bed is perfect for those little dogs with an attitude!

Be sure to check out the rest of our designer dog bed selection here.

Many people are kind of confused on the term ‘Teacup’ when it comes to dogs.  Many people will come up to me and ask if my Yorkie, Munchkin, is a Teacup dog.  Sometimes, when I’m just tired of answering this question, I simply reply “Yes, she’s a teacup.”  Then this is usually followed up by a bunch of  “awwww! she’s soooo cute!”  But in actuality, there is no actual breed known as ‘Teacup Yorkies’ or ‘Teacup Chihuahuas’ or ‘Teacup Pomeranians” or “Teacup you fill in the toy breed here”.  Simply put, these so called teacups are not a different breed of dog.  They are simply smaller than normal.  Sometimes, smaller dogs come about because they are the runt of a litter.  Sometimes, smaller sized dogs are bred on purpose through many years of breeding for that particular size.   But in no means are teacups a whole different breed of dog.  Teacup dogs should only be used as a description.

So what if you have a teacup dog?  I know you are just dying to find them some cute teacup dog clothes.  Well, this is probably easier said than done.  Not many boutiques specialize in teacup dog clothes like we do.  Our business started because we couldn’t find clothes that would fit our little 2 pound Yorkie.  When I say teacup dog clothes, I’m talking about clothes that will fit a dog anywhere between 1 and 5 lbs.  Pretty small isn’t it!  Its hard to imagine, but teeny tiny clothes for dogs this size do actually exist, and Swank Pets definitely has a huge selection of teacup dog clothes to choose from. 

Now I’ve never seen a full grown dog at 1 lbs before, and if I did, I think I would be looking at the world’s smallest dog.  So the clothes we carry that fit dogs at 1 lbs are meant for teacup puppy clothes.  If you just brought home a cute little teacup puppy, we can help you find some ultra cute and trendy teacup puppy clothes.  I guarantee that you will not find cuter or more gorgeous teacup puppy clothes anywhere else besides here at Swank Pets.

Here are some pieces of teacup dog clothes that we have to offer.  Visit our site to see our entire collection and available sizes.

I read this story in the news and immediately thought of my little Yorkie Munchkin.  Since she also weighs almost 2 pounds and has big giant eyes, I thought about this happening to her and started to feel sad.  I’ll summarize the heroic but tragic story below.  WARNING, this is a pretty sad and graphic story, so please be prepared.

I’m not too sure where this took place, but it involved a woman named Dorothy, her husband Gary, and her little 2 pound Yorkie, Peggy Sue.  Apparently, Dorothy and her husband Gary decided to take an afternoon nap in their recliners at home.  Their Yorkie, Peggy Sue, was fast asleep on Gary’s lap.  Suddenly, Gary is awakened by Peggy Sue barking non-stop at Dorothy’s face.  When Gary turned to look over at Dorothy, he noticed her shaking uncontrollably.  He also noticed her lips turning blue with no response to any of his questions.  He suddenly knew that she was having a seizure.  In a panic, he yelled for his housemates downstairs to call 911.  The couple also had another dog, a black border collie that they kept outside. 

Preparing to get Dorothy to the hospital, Gary let his border collie inside.  Being a very protective pet and noticing the little Yorkie, Peggy Sue, barking at Dorothy, the collie immediately thought that Peggy Sue was trying to harm Dorothy.  Out of  instinct, the collie suddenly grabbed Peggy Sue by the head so hard that the poor Yorkie’s eyes had popped out of her head.  Still in a panic, Gary put Peggy Sue in the bathroom away from harm, and rushed to the hospital with his wife.  Fortunately, their neighbors were able to take the Yorkie to the vet to have one of her eyes removed and sewn shut.  The other eye was saved, but Peggy Sue still suffers from partial blindness out of that eye.

The good news is that Dorothy survived the tragic seizure, but her heroic Yorkie has almost lost her eye sight.  If Peggy Sue never barked to wake up Gary, chances are that she would have died. 

Personally, I’ve heard of dogs being able to predict seizures and the ability to detect cancer.  Perhaps I’ll do some research on this and save it for another post.  Either way, this story was both heroic and tragic at the same time.  However, the story did leave a sour taste in my mouth.  I don’t understand why the border collie acted so aggressively towards the Yorkie.  The news story may have left out some information, but if the two dogs live together, I would figure that they should know each other well enough to not attack one another.  It almost sounds like the owners have done a poor job training and raising this collie because of the aggressive nature that it exhibited.  If the collie was properly brought up, this incident should have never happened as far as the injury to the Yorkie.  That’s why this story kind of makes me mad. 

 Dog owners must take full responsibilty of their pets for their sake and their pets’ sake.  When owners ignore the proper discipline and training required for a pet, it just shows how irrepsonsible and undeserving they are of owning a dog.  I’m just ranting and I know I don’t have the whole story, but it still makes me mad that a poor Yorkie lost her eye sight.

Many people are always curious about which is the best type of dog food.  Its only natural for us to want to feed only the best foods for our dogs.  I’ve actually written a couple articles and posts related to dog food.  I think your dog’s diet is one of the most important things in your dog’s life.  Just like humans, a healthy diet will mean a healthy dog.  I can’t stress enough how important it is to feed your dog the correct type of food.  This is a pretty good article I wrote on choosing the best type of dog food in general.  It goes over what your dog needs in their nutrition and some dog foods that I recommend.  It was a little more focused on food for small and toy dog breeds.  I also wrote a blog post on how to prepare home cooked dogs meals if you care to check it out.

Anyhow, I’d like to discuss the complications that wet dog food can cause in our dogs.  In general, you’ll want to feed your dogs dry kibble.   The dry kibble is great for cleaning teeth and keeping their teeth healthy.  The crunchy kibble will help reduce bad breath and even helps with keeping a healthy and strong jaw.  The problem with wet dog food is that this moist and wet food can easily become lodged in your dog’s teeth.  When the wet dog food becomes trapped in their teeth, it starts to decay and cause plaque build up.   In a nutshell, this is the major problem with wet dog food.  I’ve also written a blog on the importance of good dog hygiene and how to brush your dog’s teeth.

I’m not saying that wet dog food should never be fed to your dog.  I’m sure your dog drools when they see that can of yummy wet goodness splash into their dog bowls.   I would use the wet dog food more as a treat rather than a normal consistent meal.  What we do a lot of times with our dogs is mix in about half wet dog food and half dry kibble.  This way, the kibble can still do its cleaning job, and your dog still gets to have some super yummy food.  I mean lets face it, that dry kibble we feed our dogs looks really unappetizing.   On the other hand, there have been times where I was tempted to eat some of their canned food because it smelled so good!

The only other time I would feed my dogs wet canned food is if they refuse to absolutely eat anything else.  To be more specific, if you own a toy breed puppy, it is imperative that they eat on a regular basis.  If you have a really small toy breed puppy that refuses to eat, your puppy can start to become hypoglycemic, a very serious and often fatal condition if not treated correctly.  So if you have a little teeny tiny puppy that won’t eat anything else except canned dog food, then feed them canned food.  You can always change your puppies diet as they grow older and have less of a danger with bouts of hypoglycemia.

All in all, lets do our dog’s a favor and leaved the canned dog food for treats and special occasions.  You will have a healthier dog and that is the most important thing.  As always, consult with your veterinarian on anything related to your dog’s health.

So perhaps you’ve just gotten a new puppy or maybe you’ve had your dog for a while now. Either way, many women these days are looking for chic and trendy ways to keep their little babies with them at all times. Some women complain that their dog carriers are too bulky or too large to carry around on a regular basis. I can agree that carrying these small dog carriers while shopping at the mall can be quite a nuisance. This new line of trendy purses for small dogs are an absolute must have dog accessory. Not only are they absolutely gorgeous and fashionable, they do a great job of keeping your little one safe by your side at all times. Many of our customers have mentioned that the best things about these trendy purses for small dogs is that they look like normal purses! No one will ever suspect that you have a little furry baby sitting snugly inside your purse. We’ve gotten many compliments from normal everyday people asking where they can get a purse just like ours. When we tell them that its actually a purse for small dogs, they are absolutely in awe.

All these trendy purses for small dogs are made with the utmost quality and detail in mind. The fabrics for these dog purses range from a natural linen look to a more sophisticated patent leather appeal. Whatever your taste is, you will not be disappointed with either of these ultra trendy purses for small dogs. Each small dog purse provides many useful features and meticulous detail. Each carrier comes with machine washable quilted comfort cushion so your baby can stay snug for hours on end. The security leash inside the dog purse itself ensures that your dog will not jump out. The pockets inside [Read more →]

Okay, now that I am awake again, this is Part 2 of the series “Dealing with your Dog’s Aggression”. You can read part 1 here.

MANAGING AGGRESSION: PACK DRIVE

The pack drive is usually associated with reproduction and being part of a group. Dogs that exhibit the pack drive may show signs of aggression towards people, attack other dogs, and not failing to stop an attack on another dog. These aggressive behaviors are seen a lot in dogs that leave their mothers too early. I’ve stressed this point a lot in previous posts, but puppies should leave their mother at around 10 - 12 weeks of age at the soonest. Any breeder that lets a puppy go any earlier is acting irresponsibly and your business should go elsewhere. Anyhow, at the age of 5 to 7 weeks, a puppy learns many instincts from their mother, such as canine body language. This canine body language pretty much teaches a puppy that they are dogs. Puppies that do not learn this canine body language tend to exhibit more aggressive behavior towards other dogs and sometimes humans.

To manage a dog that exhibits this type of behavior, you may try using these techniques:

[Read more →]

WHAT IS AGGRESSION

The term Aggression may have different meanings to different people. For example, some people may think that a dog that barks and growls at people as they walk by the house is aggressive. However, the dog is simply claiming their territory which is perfectly normal. The official definition (okay, official in my mind) is a dog that bites uncontrollably and unpredictably without any sort of warning. I know many people may disagree, but I think that most dogs that are considered “aggressive” are only acting out of their environment or upbrining. Most aggressive incidents are actually predictable, provoked, or both.

CAUSES OF AGGRESSION

When you think of aggressive dogs, pictures of vicious Pitbulls and Rottweilers probably come to mind. However, aggressive dogs come in all sorts of sizes and breeds. Even toy breed dogs can be “aggressive”, but this is [Read more →]

So you think you’ve got a tough little pup, huh? Is he the type that walks around the house thinking that he owns the place. Does he run around and terrorize the other dogs in your house even though he’s a quarter of their size? If so, it sounds like you’ve got Tuff Little guy on your hands. Little boy dogs with these characteristics need to wear the proper attire to match their little attitudes. What better pattern screams “Tough!” more than camo. Yes, that’s right, Camo Dog Clothes! The camo pattern has been around for many, many years. Of course we know it all originated from the military, but many modern designers today have incorporated the camo look in many of their outfits. We see many trendy designers not only for humans using this pattern, but also for dog clothes.

Camo dog clothes are in essence the perfect way to distinguish your little baby from the rest. I know I just used the term ‘baby’, but we still want everyone to know how tough our dog is even though he may be the most loving and cuddling thing in the world. Anyhow, we get asked a LOT about carrying small clothes for boy dogs. I agree, a lot of our dog clothes are best suited for girl dogs, however, many of our small dog clothes are also unisex. But if you’re tired of people always asking “Is that a boy or a girl?”, then these small camo dog clothes and harnesses are perfect for you and your fur baby.

The camo dog harness pictured above is absolutely great for boy dogs. Most importantly, these small dog camo harnesses are the safest methods for walking your dog. The benefit of using a harness is that it places the pressure on your dog’s chest. A dog collar, on the other hand, puts most of the pressure on your dog’s throat and trachea, which is a lot more delicate than their chest. Anyhow, this small dog camo harness is made from high quality mesh and cotton trim. It also features a sturdy D-ring to attach the leash of your choice. If you’re looking for a small dog harness for hot muggy days, then this is your answer. The mesh will definitely help keep your pooch cool and safe all day long.

Next, pictured below, another one of our popular camo dog harnesses. This one is little more trendy as you can see from [Read more →]